PEUGEOT 308: THE LAST SPEECH

Second facelift with digital interior, excellent diesel and 8-speed automatic.

I think you are now looking at the pictures and wondering what's new in this Peugeot 308. To be honest, I looked at it the same way in the parking lot of Sofia France Auto when I took it for a test. I accepted the invitation to test without hesitation, as this is probably the most popular model of the French in our country. I decided that in this crazy year of lockdown, I missed the digital event with the premiere of a completely new generation, which has been talked about for two years. But alas - next year there will be a real successor, and during one from Peugeot they release the last, second consecutive facelift of a very successful 2014 model.

You can see for yourself that outside, if there are any changes, then they are more than cosmetic, and unnecessary comments. This 308 already looks painfully familiar, but by no means outdated. The French are focusing on the new three-layer Vertigo in blue and 18-inch diamond-effect light-alloy wheels that refresh the overall look.

Screens

The most significant upgrade awaits you from the inside (if we accept it as necessary).

Instead of the usual analogue-digital instrument cluster located above the smaller steering wheel, the so-called digital i-Cockpit of the latest generation awaits you. This is a completely electronic screen that displays all the information the driver needs. Unlike the new 208, here it has no 3D effect, but has the same graphical layout and actually does the same job without making you feel like a gamer. The center console screen is also new, capacitive (whatever that means) and offers connected satellite navigation with real traffic messages, new graphics and faster access to features. Thanks to the Mirror Screen function, you can mirror the screen of your smartphone right on it.

The downside is the slightly more limited rear seat space that has been characteristic of this generation 308 from 2014.

The facelifted Peugeot 308 offers a full range of latest generation driver assistance systems, as we are used to seeing in the higher segments. On board there is an adaptive autopilot with a stop and start function that keeps the car in the steering wheel correction band, a rear view camera, an autopilot for parking that monitors free parking spaces and gets behind the wheel instead of the driver, automatic braking of the latest generation in the car. in a collision, operating at speeds from 5 to 140 km / h, automatic adaptive high beam and active blind zone monitoring system with direction correction at speeds above 12 km / h.

Efficiency

New is the drive configuration, which is the car's biggest advantage. 1,5-liter four-cylinder diesel with 130 hp and 300 Nm of maximum torque were combined with a magnificent 8-speed automatic from the Japanese company Aisin.

A drive that makes you feel like you're in a car of a higher class, as it offers you greater agility, harmony between engine and automation, and remarkable economy. Acceleration to 100 km / h takes usually 9,4 seconds, but thanks to good torque and excellent automatics, you have excellent right-pedal responsiveness when changing variables. In general, the transmission is tuned for quieter, more fuel-efficient operation, but you also have a sport mode that increases speed and responsiveness, making it almost fun to drive. Unlike many other cars, the fun here won't cost you much - I took the 308 with an onboard computer flow rate of 6 liters per 100 km, and after a mostly dynamic test I returned it with a figure of 6,6 liters. I promise that you can achieve a mixed flow of 4,1 liters. No matter how much all automakers develop gasoline engines, adding hybrid technologies to them, it is difficult to approach the efficiency of prematurely stopped diesels. Whether the next 308 will still offer diesel remains to be seen, but if they drop it it will definitely be a loss.

I did not feel any change in the behavior of the car. Driving comfort is on a good level for a C-segment hatchback, although the rear suspension is slightly harder on bumps (contrary to expectations from a French car). Thanks to its low weight (1204 kg) and a reduced center of gravity of the body compared to the previous generation, you get good cornering stability. The small steering wheel further enhances the driver's emotions, although they could have done so with better feedback. Overall, however, the 308 remains an enjoyable car to drive, setting the bar high for its successor.

Under the hood

Дvigatel	Diesel
Number of cylinders	4
drive unit	Front
Working volume	1499 cc
Power in hp	130 h.p. (at 3750 rpm)
Torque	300 Nm (at 1750 rpm)
Acceleration time	(0 – 100 km / h) 9,4 sec.
full speed	206 km / h
Fuel consumption	City 4 l / 1 km Country 100 l / 3,3 km
Mixed cycle	3,6 l / 100 km
CO2 emissions	94 g / km
The weight	1204 kg
Price	from 35 834 BGN with VAT